A thirty-year-old Andhra man submitted a petition in a local court in Chittoor on Saturday seeking euthanasia for his bone cancer stricken 4-year-old son.
Buttaiah plays traditional instruments at family functions in Ramasamudram mandal in Chittoor district. Mahesh, his son, was diagnosed with bone cancer shortly after birth. Ever since, his wife and him have taken the ailing child for treatment and medical help to many hospitals in Chennai, Bangalore, Vellore and even to Mumbai.
They have spent close to 15 lakhs in this process, and sacrificed all their earnings and property. Finding themselves in abject poverty, unable to sustain this medical expenditure, they have sought mercy killing for the child.
Buttaiah spoke to the media and expressed his helplessness. He said he couldn’t bear the child’s pain.
We have to administer costly medicines and injections to the boy periodically. As we are unable to bring the medicines to him, it is a hell for us to watch the boy weeping uncontrollably. Now, we have decided to seek mercy killing for the boy.
The judge on the case in Punganur turnded down this petition. He said, however, that the matter would be referred to the District Collector.
According to a report by The Hindu, in the last three years, five cases of mercy killing were reported solely in courts which fell under the Madanapalle revenue district.
(Source: The Hindu)
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